I didn’t like this book as much as the first. This book had a good dose of Nikki making some stupid choices that make you want to yell at her.. I’m not sure I’m done with the series but I wasn’t as impressed with this book.

Synopsis:
As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down. But when an Oracle shows up, warning the Descendants about wild dog attacks in Washington, D.C., Nikki is afraid it might be a trap. The Olympians believe the “dogs” are really jackals, controlled by a blood-crazed descendant of the Egyptian death-god Anubis. Whatever. . . . If Nikki hopes to muzzle Dogboy, she’s got to catch him in the act. But when she stakes out a local cemetery, she ends up face-to-snout with a snarling pack of shadow-jackals whose bite is worse than their bark. These hellhounds are deadly—even for an immortal like Nikki. “Dog” spelled backward may be “god,” but that won’t stop Nikki from teaching these old gods some new tricks. Like playing dead.

Review:As we know from book one in this series, Nikki is a descendent of Artemis. So in other words, she has perfect accuracy with any weapon and can almost turn anything into a weapon. She is also known for her ability to track down people who don’t want to be or can’t be found. Anderson is one scary guy. A God of destruction and vengeance, he is capable of killing any Liberi. So when he manipulates Nikki into reviewing records to make sure the people he has hidden are truly that, she can’t say no. Unfortunately it isn’t long before the Liberi are tasked with finding one of their own, another Liberi, and stopping him from killing any more innocent.

I felt like Nikki was a little harsh with how she felt about Emma. Although Emma has gone through hell, she criticizes every move she makes. There’s a possibility she’s right about Emma manipulating Anderson. But I think some slack is due. Things between Jamaal and Nikki change from him hating her to them finding a commonality, maybe even the beginning of a relationship. But Nikki’s attraction to Jamaal is confusing and complicated. When he surprises her with a kiss, she makes the encounter awkward and refuses to kiss him back. I just don’t get it. She has made numerous comments about how attractive he is and how much she likes him, but then she pushes him away. I guess I just don’t understand the reasoning behind it. As things progress in the book, Nikki’s reaction to Jamaal changes.

I didn’t like this book as much as the first. There was a lot of repetition of information. And the plot had some noticeable holes. There were things in this book that irritated me – For example, the team is worries about people hearing Nikki’s gun shots when tracking the Jackle. Has no one heard of a silencer? With money not being an issue, I would think getting a high performance, powerful, but silent gun would be no problem. And Nikki’s character is starting to get on my nerves. The saying ‘self fulfilling prophecy’ circled around my mind while reading the book. I’m still going to give the third book in this series a try. Hopefully it’s better

Synopsis:
Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die. . . . Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy.

But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . . .

Review:Nikki thinks she is a 25 year old private investigator but she soon finds out she is much more. Being the descendent of Artemis,Nikki finds herself with a crash course on what it means to be a Liberi and that not all Liberi are good.

Getting tossed in the middle, Nikki must choose whose side she wants to align herself with. The plus side to all this, is one side really sucks in the evil, kill innocents kind of way. While the other side is an obvious better choice, to say Nikki got off on the wrong foot with them is an understatement.

Forced to move in with Anderson and those he protects, Nikki discovered not everyone was happy about this. As Nikki gets to know the others, she learns not all their ‘powers’ are fun. In fact, most come with sacrifices. Nikki tries her best to survive the new life she finds herself in and keep those she loves safe. But at every turn, she is faced with violence and those who don’t trust her. But more surprisingly, she uncovers secrets that will get her killed.

This book is fast moving with a ton of action. Nikki is a strong character but she is also flawed. Her background of moving from one foster home to the next has tainted her. And because of this, she never truly feels like she belongs. I feel for Nikki’s character. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one. I’m curious to see if anything happens between Nikki and Jamaal…

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This is one of those books I really wish I could read. If I wasn’t still recovering from a concussion, I would love to read this book. But as it is, this book will be added to my to-read list and I will have to wait until I am healed.

1) When did you know first discover you wanted to be a writer and why writing?Like most authors, I have always been a reader. I was a shy child (still am) and book characters were my friends. I did well in English class, which led me to a Journalism major in college. Deep down, I always had the fantasy of being a successful author, but when I graduated college back in 1989, self publishing wasn’t a viable option. There were bills to pay and later, children to raise, so I took the practical route. I’m a technical writer and editor for a software company, so I write pretty dull stuff during the day. About 10 years ago, I decided I wanted to write fiction. It is a nice escape from the daily world.

2) Tell us about your book and why you wrote it?FIRST CRUSH, LAST LOVE started out as a fictional memoir. Throughout the various crises I have faced, I often mumbled, “This will make a great book someday.” I wrote this story to exorcise the demons in my head. It took four long years to finish, and there were times that I thought I wouldn’t reach the end, but then a lucky thing happened – the characters took on their own identities and their storylines evolved away from my life. Some scenes are still true to my past, though it is not important which ones. I will tell you that I did obsess over a boy throughout high school. I did move on and marry someone else, which ended in failure. And, just like Jessie, I did marry that high school crush and we are living happily ever after.

3) What message or lasting thought do you hope your readers will take away from your book?Making mistakes is part of life, but if you can live through the rough times, you will be stronger. And never give up on happiness. You can find your last love.

4) What author and/or what book has had the greatest impact on your life?Nora Roberts turned me on to romance books. Before I read hers, I kind of looked down on the genre as being so unrealistic. But after I lived several decades, I realized that the world could use more romance books and happily ever afters.

5) Can you offer any advice for beginning writers or those trying to get publishedLearn about story structure and find a professional editor for your book. Also, realize that not everyone will like your book. You will need to have tough skin. I have gotten one star and five star reviews on the same day. It’s just part of the job.

Synopsis:
Remember your first crush? How your heart raced and your cheeks flushed whenever you saw him? Jessie Baxter does, and it’s happening again. Ten years ago, despite her best efforts, Lee Archer wanted to be just friends. Now, he wants more, but Jessie’s still recovering from a psycho ex-husband. Can she learn to trust again and make her first crush into her last love?

Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel will have you remembering the angst of high school, the grief of a failed relationship, and the happiness of true love.

Excerpt:
In the main banquet hall of Penbrook’s Restaurant, the band closed their first set with a slow song, and the Class of 1984 and their spouses headed to the dance floor. Jessie hadn’t slow-danced since her wedding reception and her mood turned bitter at the memory. She downed the rest of her drink. Love sucked. That was the bottom line.

She smelled Lee before she saw him. His clean, shower-fresh scent conjured up more memories. Sitting behind him in classes because “Baxter” came after “Archer,” she had breathed in his pheromones as if her life depended on it.

From behind, he nudged her shoulder with his own. “Hi there.”

His European-cut, black suit and steel-gray tie made him look both elegant and handsome. She wished for a blast of cool air to dry the drops of perspiration breaking out across her upper lip.

She swiped at the wetness and gave him a half smile. “Hi back.”

He cleared his throat, and she thought his soft green eyes shifted, but she knew that couldn’t be possible. It had to be a trick of the flickering dance lights, because gods didn’t get nervous.

He didn’t seem to notice her zombie-like state. Looking sheepish, he asked, “Would you like to dance? I think I owe you one.”

The horrible memories kept piling up. Now she had to agonize over the disastrous Spring Fling when they had gone to the dance together, but Lee had alternated between fighting and making out with Tina the whole night.

Her brain started functioning again. This time her smile was tight. “That was a long time ago. I barely remember the night.”

Liar, but she was done giving men the satisfaction of hurting her.

Disappointment clouded his eyes, but then it was gone with a blink and she wasn’t sure what she had seen.

“How about we dance anyway?”

She shook her head. “Thanks, but I was never good at dancing.”

“Come on. It’ll be fun.” He gave her empty glass to a passing waiter and tugged her toward the dance floor.

On the way, she fought confusion, disbelief, panic, excitement, and lust. When he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, lust won. Her lady parts crowed in triumph.

“You . . . you don’t have to do this.” Her head spun as she tried to regulate her breathing. His scent filled her pores, and her knees trembled.

The beautiful mouth that she had studied to the point of knowing every curve and line frowned. “But I want to, Jester. Do you hate me that much?”

“What?” She stopped moving to the music. “I don’t hate you. Why do you think that?”

“Because I treated you like crap in high school and took you for granted. You have every right to hate me.”

“We were kids,” she said with a flick of her fingers. “Kids do stupid things.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t make it right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

She pulled out of his grasp. She didn’t need his sympathy or his apology. She didn’t need to remember how awful high school was, and she absolutely didn’t need lust rushing through her body like whitewater rapids.

“You’re forgiven. Thanks for the dance.”

She made it two steps and then his hand captured hers again. Spinning her around, he closed the distance between them and whispered in her ear, “Please, dance with me.”

She drew in a breath and let it out, picturing her yoga master. When her body relaxed, he pulled her tighter against him. The warmth from his hand sent sparks along her spine and outward to the far corners of her body. It was like being electrocuted but in a good way. She didn’t have to die to go to heaven. Paradise was right here in his arms.

Love a book that has a Happily Ever After? Check out my alter ego, Elizabeth McKenna:

Elizabeth McKenna works as a full-time technical writer/editor for a large software company. Though her love of books reaches back to her childhood, she had never read romance novels until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene).

She had always wanted to write fiction, so she combined her love of history, romance and a happy ending to write Cera’s Place and Venice in the Moonlight. Her short story, The Gypsy Casts a Spell, is available for free on her website http://elizabethmckenna.com/. She hopes you will enjoy her first contemporary romance novel, First Crush Last Love, as much as others have enjoyed her historical romances.

Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn’t writing, working, or being a mom, she’s sleeping.

When you see a book written by Ilona Andrews, you know a couple things. First, the writing will be fantastic and you will be drawn into the story within the first chapter. And second, the plot will be complex, fascinating, and unique. Clean Sweep is no exception. But one thing the author did that I have not seen before was add pictures throughout the book. There were only a couple but nonetheless it was kind of fun to see.

Synopsis:
On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night….Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

Review:Dina is the owner of the local bread and breakfast. But when the dog killings begin to increase and the thing killing them begins to get bolder, Dina isn’t sure she is able to sit back and watch her neighbors get threatened. Sean is not what he seems. Although he is new to town, he takes no time in marking his territory. As a werewolf, Dina goes to him for help but getting his help isn’t as easy as she would hope. This puts Dina in a predicament – do nothing and keep her neutral stance within the world of creatures and monsters. Or get involved and lose part of her protection and possibly jeopardize her inn.

Both Dina and Sean are far more complex than they seem. Dina’s powers match those of her inn. Her little dog Beast is amazing. But Dina is not a usual innkeeper. She is caring, loyal, and unbelievably strong. Yet, there are parts in the book that hint her skills and powers are highly underestimated, even by her.

Sean is arrogant, dangerous, and highly attractive. Watching the interactions between him and Dina is not only entertaining, but also fun in the building of sexual tension kind of way.

So much happens in this book, I honestly don’t know what else to say without giving too much away. I love the flow of this book. The author does a great job creating a unique world. The book ends with the possibility of a love triangle. Normally I hate this kind of thing. But I have a feeling it won’t be much of a love triangle for long.

By the end of the book I had a huge smile on my face and could only think one thing – man, I love this book! I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?I have read and got lost in books since a very young child. I have always said to myself I’ll write like this one day. I’ll be the retreat for people like me who seek solace in books. Even if it is a bit twisted. I became a mum at a young age so that has always been first and foremost in my life but now the voices are too loud and want out,so i’m grabbing it and running with the crazy

What is the first book that ever made you cry?Danielle Steel – His Bright Light read it! It is amazing.

Do you have any bizarre writing quirks?I’m just bizarre in general, but i click my toes together the whole time that i am writing.

What do you think makes a good story?My husbands says the title and the bigger the boobies the better on the cover (sorry he just wanted to feel involved in my interview lol), but on a serious note i feel passion, and an awesome twisted plot that takes you by surprise makes for an fabulously alluring story.

What are common traps that new authors fall into?People pleasing, feeling they have to change to fit into an already established writing world.

All new writers JUST BE YOU don’t fall into the trap that society wants. Me i’m just batshit crazy all day every day. Take me like a grain of salt and put me in ya coffee.

If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?To not have been as scared to let the world know what goes on inside my brain. Keep writing no matter how crazy shit gets don’t ever stop writing. If you write a sentence a day, pretty soon you will have a whole book.

Describe how you felt when you published your first book.Crazy ecstatic, shaking in me boots, overwhelmingly worried that the world wouldn’t get me but oh so astonishingly proud to show my kiddies DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!

Author: Aleisha MareePublished: August 31, 2017

Series: Reapers Reign

Synopsis:
I am Knox The Assassin Ambrose. I loved an angel, yet couldn’t keep her. These hands of mine, they make people bleed. They rain down pain upon sweet pain. Break a man’s bones with just one swift southpaw to the jaw. I’m an Assassin of men’s’ bodies and women’s hearts. I don’t do nice. I’m Raw, Rough and Unwavering in my quest to be the best.

I feed on my enemy’s hate, turning it into power and strength. I know how to fight with my fists but I also know how to destroy you without a single touch. I fucking clawed my way to the top and that is where I’ll stay.

No need to seek the warmth of a woman’s arms as I had them all falling at my feet, then like a south paw to the jaw she was there. Stuck in my minds eyes, haunting my dreams and etching in under my skin. The more this new beauty holds my attention, the more I lose of my angel, the one who first saved me. To top it off, she has her eyes, so every time I look at her, I’m reminded of what I’ve lost. She’s taking over my senses and turning my brutal world upside down.

Maybe just maybe I can find that love my soul craves. Miss Blue-James; can she accept the monster I’ve become? She has her own deep, dark secrets and evil is chasing her tail, seeking to bring her down.

But the evil hell bent on destroying her, hasn’t met me yet. I won’t fail her the way I failed my angel. Tick Tock goes the clock.

Aleisha Maree – Author

Writer of dark erotic souls in leather and lace.​​​​​

Aleisha Maree is a Wife to one amazing man who is the love of her life, her soul in this crazy world, & a Mamma bear to 6 little hell hounds (I mean kids) that mean more to her than breathing.

Aleisha’s from a small village called Wakefield in the South Island of New Zealand. Reading and getting lost in the world of words and peoples remarkable thoughts has always be the greatest form of escape and the most magical journeys.

Aleisha has spent the last 15 years being a Mamma and wife. Until now, she has put her writing and the amazing voices of hot alphas and ladies in lace on the back burner. But with life slowing down just a little and the kids just about off too school, the voices became too loud to ignore.

My books will have happily ever afters as well as intense dark loves, devils, and demons with a few angels thrown in here and there.

Carmen Dane was a self-assured Domme who always maintained control…until she submitted to sinfully sexy Master Thomas Regala. She gave him her trust and her vulnerability, and he betrayed her. She’s avoided him for months, but now he knows the truth and refuses to let her hide. Her all-consuming hunger for Thomas has only grown stronger during their time apart. But Carmen will never submit to him—or anyone—ever again.

Thomas isn’t about to give up that easily. Carmen is his Mistress and his submissive. He’ll do almost anything for a second chance—even if it means giving up some of his power for her pleasure. Now they’ve embarked on a game of desire and dark, greedy need that breaks both their rules. But can Thomas ever wholly submit to Carmen when he wants to claim her as his own?

Short Excerpt:I shut the door of my office and folded my arms across my chest. “Now that we’re alone, what do you want?”

He quirked a brow that made me think of things best left forgotten.

“What do you think I want to discuss besides the fact you scened with another man? The fact that you caressed him, kissed him, and made him come at your feet.”

I leaned against the desk, which housed housing a wall of security monitors. “Who I scene with and what I do is not your concern.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

I jumped at his outburst but remained quiet.

“Tell me that you were aroused performing with that boy. Did you enjoy caressing him, kissing him, making him come? You may have everyone else watching fooled, but I know you. I know when you’re turned on, and you weren’t even remotely stirred. You enjoyed the high of control, nothing more.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to rein in the turmoil rolling around inside me. “What does it matter how my body reacted? You aren’t part of my life. You made sure of that. Besides…” I paused and closed my eyes for a second.

“Besides?” he probed, and stepped in front of me.

I stared him directly in the eyes. “Besides, I stated where I stood with you during your visit to my estate.”

He remained quiet, holding my gaze.

I stood up, forcing him to step back, cocked a hand on my hip, and tilted my chin slightly, giving him my stern Domme stance. “Let me ask you this one more time, and I expect an answer. Why are you in my club?”

His pupils dilated, and his golden- halo- rimmed hazel eyes clouded to a dark green.

About the AuthorSienna Snow’s love of reading started at a very young age with “Beezus and Ramona.” By the time she entered high school, a girlfriend introduced her to Bertrice Small and Jude Deveraux, and an avid romance reader was born.

She writes sexy romance, some with a lot of heat and spice and others with a bit of fantasy. Her characters represent strong women of different cultures and backgrounds, who seek love through unique circumstances.

When she is not writing, traveling, or reading, she spends her time with her husband and two children.